Mimi

For the Read Harder category of a self-published book. Tidy novella written by someone I used to work with. Well done.

Four stars for being one of the best romance novels I've ever read. Actually, can't think of a better at the moment. I read this for the 2019 Read Harder Challenge: A book by or about someone that identifies as neurodiverse. This is both. Loved the female protagonist, who is rich, brilliant, and has Asperger's Syndrome.

I listened to the audiobook, which the actress reads somewhat theatrically. Once I got used to the performance and the language, I found it compelling. I did wonder sometimes what her siblings made of her account, because they make only brief appearances throughout the detailed telling of her father's death and then her mother's. But, I suppose she could only speak for her own experience.

Such a weird book. Donna (University of Michigan grad/punk from the 70s, now a mother of two in Michigan) has a crisis in her marriage. She drives off in a state of hysteria and, after some pretty funny mishaps, finds herself in New York. Among other things, she considers going to Rockaway Beach to ask Patti Smith for advice. I'm totally with her so far! I expected the comedy to continue, but then people behave badly, and additional unappealing characters are thrown into the mix. The story turns dark, and then it ends dark.

I saw the documentary (The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley) and thought this might be a repetitive read. But it was still fascinating. For the Read Harder Challenge categories “a book of nonviolent crime,” and, for double-duty, “a book by a journalist.”

Good airplane read.

Loved it.

More fiction-ish than her past books, with passages that might be dreams or might be real life. Her dark thoughts about the current administration, and concern about issues such as climate change and immigration, come through clearly, though. On a side note, it seems like Patti Smith doesn't really need to be taking rides from strangers anymore. I was a little worried for her.

Caro is working on volume 5 of his LBJ biography. I need to buckle down and finish 3 and 4...

I heard the author interviewed on Fresh Air, and thought the book sounded interesting. It turned out to be super interesting.

Not just food stories in this latest memoir, but also an in-depth look at magazine production from someone new to the publishing world and its culture. I found it fascinating and listened to the audio version almost nonstop.

For the Read Harder Challenge—a book by an author of color set in or about space. A classic, clearly, but science fiction is just not for me.

Lots of straight-up reporting, but not much interpretation.

For the Read Harder Challenge category of an epistolary novel or collection of letters. This was a big surprise. I don't usually enjoy YA or Meg Wolitzer, but I loved this book. Yes, it's an updated Parent Trap, but I totally bought into it and loved Grandma Gaga.

I am embarrassed to say that I didn't really know anything about the Lizzie Borden story. I always pictured them in early settler times, somewhere out in the woods, Lizzie hacking her parents to death after chopping wood one day. But no, they were killed in their city home in Fall River, MA. And it was 1892, so there was a full trial with all the forensics of the day.

The title is accurate–this is about the trial, with all the details. Readable, but a little slow going...

For the 2019 Read Harder Challenge category of a children's or middle grade book that has won a diversity award since 2009. In this case, the book was one selected for ALA's 2017 Rainbow Project. It has two dads, four adopted sons, an aunt who has a cupcake store and a magician boyfriend, AND a bad guy to outwit. So much fun.

Not a lot of action, especially in the first half, but atmospheric and tense.

A little confused because this book also seems to be known as The Strange Journey of Mr. Daldry. But clearly it's more about Alice.

For the Read Harder Challenge category “A Book Published Prior to January 1, 2019, with Fewer than 100 Reviews on Goodreads” (as of today it has 69 ratings and 8 reviews). The book caught my eye because my Hungarian grandparents lived for a time in Delray, probably in this time period. Spoiler alert: Rose Veres was not actually a witch, but she was a Hungarian immigrant unjustly accused.

For the 2019 Read Harder Challenge: A novel by a trans or nonbinary author. Wendy, a 30ish trans woman in Winnipeg, struggles continually with the threat of sexual violence, discrimination, employment insecurity, and her drug/alcohol abuse, and yet this is not an entirely bleak novel. Also, it's not really focused on Wendy seeking the truth about her grandfather, despite the blurb.

For the Read Harder Challenge: A book in which an animal or inanimate object is a point-of-view character. I am considering a robot to be an inanimate object. Also, a book by a woman that won a literary award in 2018–the Nebula Award for Best Novella.

Listened to this one, and got teary-eyed when he talked about his wife dying; even more so when he described how he still has conversations with her. Seems like a decent guy.

Korean librarian assassins, some knitting. Worth four stars just for those things.

For the Read Harder Challenge: A book by or about someone who identifies as neurodiverse. This is a collection of personal essays about Wang's life with schizoaffective disorder, Lyme disease, and PTSD. Such a strong and intelligent work.

Loved this, maybe partly because it's about Detroit, but also just because it's so well done.